The American Heart Association (AHA) and The Children’s Heart Foundation recently launched the fourth year of the state’s "Little Hats, Big Hearts" initiative.

The program gives new moms a free kit that includes a beautiful, handmade red hat, along with health information including tips on raising a healthy family, ways mom can take care of herself, heart-healthy recipes and information on children’s heart health.

Babies born in February will don knitted red caps to raise awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects (CHD), the most common type of birth defect in the country.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and The Children’s Heart Foundation recently launched the fourth year of the state’s "Little Hats, Big Hearts" initiative. Capital Health newborn babies are wearing their red caps.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of American Heart Association)

In the Garden State alone, more than 6,700 kits will be handed out at more than 35 hospitals across the state during February, which is American Heart Month and also holds Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, which started on Feb. 7. This February, the AHA will empower and educate moms on one of life’s most important journeys — parenthood.

"As a new mom and CHD survivor myself, I’m thrilled that the American Heart Association is raising awareness for heart-healthy living through the 'Little Hats, Big Hearts' program," said Christine Rochelle, AHA spokesperson. "During one of the most joyful and stressful times in life, this information is invaluable for new parents."

The American Heart Association (AHA) and The Children’s Heart Foundation recently launched the fourth year of the state’s "Little Hats, Big Hearts" initiative. Capital Health newborn babies are wearing their red caps.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of American Heart Association)

Heart disease can affect anyone — including moms and babies. In fact, 90 percent of women have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and congenital heart defects (CHD) are the No. 1 most frequent birth defect affecting about eight out of 1,000 infants born each year. Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart present at birth.

According to the AHA, it’s possible to fix most congenital heart defects and there are an estimated 2 million CHD survivors in the United States. The AHA is working hard towards our goal to have more healthy babies and moms by raising awareness, advocating for change and funding cutting-edge cardiovascular research to save and improve lives.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and The Children’s Heart Foundation recently launched the fourth year of the state’s "Little Hats, Big Hearts" initiative. Capital Health newborn babies are wearing their red caps.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of American Heart Association)

The "Little Hats, Big Hearts" program began in Chicago in 2014 and has expanded to more than 40 states. Since 2016, nearly 10,000 hats have been distributed in the Garden State. For more information about the Little Hats, Big Heart program in the state, go to www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based AHA is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. Connect with the AHA on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.